More Greeks to spend Easter at home
Up until now, bookings by Greeks traveling abroad for the Easter period are down in comparison to last year.
According to the vice president of the Hellenic Association of Tourism and Travel Agents (HATTA), Nikos Papathanasis, bookings this year are between 35 and 40 percent lower than levels seen in 2009 and 2008 due to the crisis.
The most popular destination for Greeks holidaying abroad during the Easter period is Istanbul, followed by Rome, Paris and the Croatian market.
Price levels for travel packages abroad are at last year?s levels.
The average cost of a three-night trip with accommodation at a four-star hotel is around 500 euros and 600 euros for a four-night stay. Data show that the number of Greeks traveling abroad since the start of the year is also sharply lower than last year?s levels.
According to Papathanasis, the drop is in excess of 30 percent.
Looking ahead to the summer season, Papathanasis said that the number of Greeks heading abroad for the summer is expected to remain at a low level with an improvement not expected not until the summer of 2012.
